Governments in Washington, Berlin, Brussels and Beijing have decided that battery-only cars are the path to the future, and are using taxpayers' money to make it happen. The trouble is car buyers aren't cooperating. Governments see battery-only cars as a way of cutting greenhouse gases, which many think cause global warming, and a route to lessening reliance on foreign oil. Car buyers see vehicles that cost about twice as much as they should, and which go about a quarter of the distance they want.A recent survey in Germany by technology consultancy Gartner Group showed just how high the barrier manufacturers must climb if consumers are willingly going to buy battery cars. According to the survey, only 16 percent of Germans would consider buying a battery car, compared with 52 percent who want gasoline power, 43 percent hybrids, 37 percent diesel and 25 percent natural gas motors. Of course, Germans don't necessarily speak for Europeans, but the country is Europe's biggest market, accounting for roughly 25 percent of car sales. There's no reason to think their car preferences will be much different from other Europeans, or Americans for that matter.